Extension-step.



\ W. eossm'r.

EXTENSION STEP.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 24, 1911.

1,006,933. Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

2 BHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. GOSSETT.

EXTENSION STEP.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 24. 1911.

1,006,933, Patented 0011.24, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2f FFEQE.

WILLIAM GOSSETT, F FALLS CITY, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GUY P. GREENWALD, OF FALLS CITY, NEBRASKA.

EXTENSION-STEP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM Gossnrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Falls City, in the county of Richardson and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension- Steps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' This invention relates to railway rolling stock, and more especially to car steps; and

the object of the same is to produce an improved type of sliding extension steps whereby the steps at the ends of passenger cars can be instantly extended when a passenger is to board the train or alight, and can be quickly reduced to their normal conditions at other times. To this end the invention consists in a sliding extension step constructed as hereinafter more fully described in detail, and as shown in the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a general perspective view of one end of a passenger car showing its fixed step as provided with this extension, the latter being housed so that the parts appear in the positions which they occupy when the train is under headway. Fig. 2 is an en larged vertical section through the steps alone, with parts in the same position as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the first step in the act of withdrawing the extension, which consists in tilting it forward out of its normal or housed position. Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the second step which consists in drawing the device upward and forward from the position of parts in the first step. Fig. 5 shows the third step wherein the parts have been drawn yet farther forward so that the two arms of the brackets touch both edges of the lowermost fixed step. Fig. 6 shows the final step, in which the extension is fully drawn out and ready for use by a passenger who is boarding the train or alighting therefrom. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail of the extension detached.

In the drawings the letter C designates a car, herein shown as a passenger car, and S are the steps which descend from each side of each platform thereof, these steps having cheeksC, treads T, and risers R as usual and being of wood or iron or any Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 24,

Patented Oct. 24:, 1911.

1911. Serial No. 623,026.

suitable material and construction forming no part of the present invention. Ordinarily the lowermost of these fixed steps travels at such a height above the roadbed that it is difiicult for a passenger to board the car or alight therefrom, especially in the case of children or infirm or old adults. To overcome this objection a platform is usually built at stations and other places where the train comes to a stop, but it is well known that if the engineer does not stop his train opposite the platform or if the latter be too low the difiiculty above described is encountered, whereas if the platform be as high as the platform of a car some kind of a gangplank must be used to reach over the steps and rest upon the two platforms. In any event, however, whenever the train is stopped at a minor station or at a point where there is no platform, the difiiculty just mentioned is experienced by all who attempt to enter or leave the train. Various kinds of extension steps have heretofore been made to overcome this objection but the extensions themselves are objection able on account of their unsightly appearance, their complication of operation, their liability to become dirty or clogged so that they will not work readily, and the possibility that the skirts of female passengers may catch upon them. All these objections I seek to overcome by my present invention which I will now describe in detail.

The fixed steps of the car need be in no wise altered excepting that in the lowermost riser I out two upright slots 5, and in the lowermost tread notches 5O opposite them; and as these can be formed in steps which are already built, my device becomes an attachment applicable to cars now in use and need not necessarily be applied thereto at the time the car is built. The attachment, best seen in Fig. 7, is by preference made entirely of metal although the step 6 may be of wood to match the steps S of the car. Secured to each end of this step and standing at right angles to its length is a bracket which is by preference of rather stiff strap iron and comprises a foot 7 passing beneath the step 6 and secured thereto by rivets or bolts 8, an upright arm 9 standing at right angles to and rising from the rear end of the foot, a horizontal arm 10 extending at right angles and to the rear from the upper end of the arm 9, and a the hook 11 and the upper arm 10 rests within the notch 50 when the angle 20 between the upper and lower arms 10 and 9 rest over the front corner of the lowermost tread T; and it follows from this construction that weight placed upon the extension step will depress it and be resisted by said tread T at its front edge, whereas the upward tendency of the hooks 11 at this time will be resisted by the tread T within its notches 50. The upright arms 9 are by preference of about the same length between said angle 20 and their angle 29 with the feet 7, as the width of the lowermost tread T; and it follows from this construction that in housing the extension when it is first raised it passes the position shown in Fig. 5 and the step 6 is then pushed over until the arms 9 rest upon the tread T, after which the whole device is pushed back until the step 6 strikes the riser R. The two parts last mentioned are by preference of the same width, whereas the length of the foot 7 is a little greater than the width of the step 6 sothat a small portion of the foot is exposed at 70 between the inner edge of the step 6 and the angle 29. As the extension is pushed back to housed position, this part 70 of each foot 7 drops into the notch 50 so that the extension 6 falls into position with its inner edge upon the tread T and its upper edge beneath the overhang O of the step above that whose tread is lettered T in the drawings. It follows from this detail of construction that the extension step 6 is entirely housed, lies flat against the front face of the riser R beneath the overhang O, and no passenger can by any possibility catch his or her garments thereon. In order to further carry out the latter idea, I make the handle of the extension step 6 in the shape of a small ring 30 which hangs loosely from a staple 31 at the outer edge of said step, so that when the latter is in housed position the ring presents no sharp corners upon which the garment can catch.

As above stated, all parts of this extension are by preference made of metal, mainly because metal occupies less space than wood; although as additional reasons for my preference I might say that metal is stronger, will not split, is easy to repair, and is fireproof.

The strips 12 connecting the rear extremities of the hook 11 can be omitted, although when used it gives them greater strength and prevents the extension from being disconnected accidentally from the car steps.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with upper and lower fixed steps and a riser between the same, the upper step projecting beyond said riser, of an extension comprising a step and two brackets, each comprising a foot secured to said extension step, an upright arm rising from said foot, a horizontal arm extending rearwardly from the upper end of said upright arm, and a down-turned hook at the rear end of said horizontal arm, the hooks being equal in width to the thickness of said lower step and the ends of the hooks projecting under said lower step when the extension step is in open position to prevent the displacement of the extension, said extension step being adapted to fold against the front face of said riser and lie wholly beneath the projecting front edge of said upper fixed step, when the extension is in folded position.

2. The combination with the fixed steps of a car, whereof the lowermost riser has upright slots and the lowermost tread has notches communicating with the lower ends of said slots; of an extension comprising a step, two brackets each comprising a foot secured to the step and extending a little beyond its rear edge, an upright arm rising from the foot, a horizontal arm extending rearwardly from said upright arm, and a downturned hook at the rear end of the horizontal arm; and a transverse strip connecting the extremities of the hooks of the two brackets.

3. The combination with the fixed steps of a car, whereof the lowermost riser has upright slots and the lowermost tread has notches in its rear edge communicating with the lower ends of said slots; of an extension .ermost tread from its front edge to the bottom of either notch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

/VILLIAM GOSS-ETT.

Witnesses L. P. WIRTH, CLYDE THOEKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

